A comprehensive scheme of work on Much Ado about Nothing for high-ability GCSE groups aiming for grades 6-9. There are 17 PowerPoints, one for each scene. Each PowerPoint has discussion, analysis and exploration of at least three themes with very detailed notes under each slide for teachers. There are further slides on each PowerPoint on Dramatic Comedy Genre; Shakespeare’s Method; and Context. Again, there are comprehensive notes relating to these areas so that you can teach with confidence. You will find the following… Themes: Love and War Gender and Identity Appearance and Reality (Constructive, Destructive & Self-Deception) Private Desire and Social Approval Legitimate and Illegitimate Behaviours Theatre of War and Domestic Sphere Miscommunication Transformation Dramatic Comedy Genre: Metadrama Metalanguage Significance of Structure Pairs and Parallels Antithesis Low Comedy Comedy Endings Shakespeare’s Method: Characterisation and conceptualisation Significance of Structure Significance of language inc. imagery, symbolism, classical references, self- reflexive language, malapropism, poetry, and prose Shakespeare’s use of stagecraft Shakespeare’s drawing attention to theatre as artifice Context: Women, identity, sexual behaviour within the 16th Century The importance of reputation Ontological death Patriarchal Hegemony Elizabethan Fashion/Significance of Clothing The social significance of marriage in the 16th Century Chivalric Love Renaissance Humanism The role of the Church within the play and the 16th Century The importance of legitimacy and the ‘problem’ of illegitimacy 16th Century ‘Police Force’ (The Watch) Hierarchical structure of society

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint for the opening of An Inspector Calls before the Inspector arrives aimed at higher-level groups. Prior reading up until the stage-direction ‘We hear the sharp ring of a front door bell’ will need to have occurred before the PowerPoint is used. The PowerPoint contains: LOs followed by a slide outlining the four key themes in this section: Privilege, Class Struggle, Snobbery and Self-Serving Idealism. Foreshadowing and Dramatic Irony are also introduced and will need to be explored by the teacher. A table in which students are asked to consider key character language and place the language under either Privilege, Class Struggle, Snobbery or Self-Serving Idealism. This can be done either as a cut-and-paste activity or on the computer as a drag and drop. The slide could be printing out and students could write answers in also if the two above options are not available A completed slide of the above task for the teacher to talk through/take feedback etc. Further discussion of Foreshadowing and Dramatic Irony A table in which students explore key language from the opening act and decide whether it is an example of foreshadowing or dramatic irony. They then need to give an insightful comment as to what the device is demonstrating/why it is an example of such a device. There are two differentiated slides here. The harder one asks the students to identify who said the line before analysing it, and there are no hint questions. The other identifies the speaker and asks ‘Withholding of further information or contextual events the audience would have knowledge about?’ as a guide for students to explore which of the two devices the language is an example of The next slide gives example ‘insightful comments’ which students can check against their own or add to during a class discussion / feedback. The final slide is a reminder of their LOs and some questions to explore the skills they used in the lesson to analyse the play today. Best wishes, Englbee x

A high-level analysis of the Inspector’s Final Speech in the play, An Inspector Calls. The analysis is 600 words long approximately. Offered as both an adaptable Word doc. and PDF. The short essay offers a high degree of close analysis of language and method as well as conceptualised interpretations in order to hit those top levels (7-9). Useful for any high-ability class studying A Inspector Calls. Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on Birling’s involvement with Eva Smith in Act One of An Inspector Calls. The resource is suitable for a mid-high level group studying the text for GCSE Literature. The resource contains: LOs and learning skills outline Reading and note-making on Birling’s involvement with Eva An exploration of the skill of distilling evidence from a text which will be practised today A table to complete on language used to demonstrate Birling’s views on Eva as a contrast to that of Eric, Sheila and the Inspector A slide with a completed table for pupils to fill in any gaps or offer other suggestions of evidence they might have An exploration of what Eric and Sheila’s views are and who they most closely align with An exploration of the significance of Eric and Sheila siding with the Inspector’s views rather than their father’s A plenary in which students can reflect on wider themes and issues explored in Birling’s involvement with Eva, and the two side of the argument (capitalist vs socialist) A reflection on the skill of distilling information today and what students did to achieve this. Under most slides also are detailed indicative comments or answers for the teacher which can be shared as appropriate with students or simply used to aid the teacher during discussion. These could be collated and printed off separately if the teacher needs extra support and notes during the lesson. Kind regards, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on the Initial Characterisation of the Inspector in Act 1 of an Inspector Calls for mid-to-higher level groups. Prior to the lesson, students will need to have read from the Inspector’s entrance and the subsequent interrogation of Birling’s involvement with Eva before using the resource. The resource makes use of skills such as questioning the text and making links between the characterisation of Birling and the Inspector as foils. The focus is on the language of the characters and significantly, the contrasting stage directions. Includes: LOs and skills The significance of the bell ring and what Birling is saying at that point Priestley’s characterisation of the Inspector in the stage directions as a contrast to Birling and the family Significance of the Inspector’s name Significance of the Inspector’s news (about a young woman) Significance of the Inspector’s methodology Significance of the contrasting stage directions in how Birling and the Inspector should deliver their lines. A reflection on Birling and the Inspector as foils in terms of beliefs and values A plenary slide in which to reflect on learning and skills from the lesson Under most slides there are indicative answers in the notes section for teachers to help them. Students will likely come up with other valid answers so these are only a guide. Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adapatble PowerPoint for mid-high GCSE English Literature students on the contrasting language and characterisation of Shelia and Mrs Birling. Slides include: LOs and Outcomes A slide-prompt to read pp. 27-33 with a focus question A table with the contrasting language of Shelia and Mrs Birling; in the notes section, ideas for teachers on how to tackle a question on contrasting language as a written task A sample response (five paragraphs) on Shelia’s language focusing on Priestley’s method and message A sample response (five paragraphs) on Mrs Birling’s language focusing on Priestley’s method and message A reflective plenary task in which students are asked to sort various adjectives into two groups to reflect the contrasting characterisations of Shelia and Mrs Birling and their links to the play’s wider themes and ideas. Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on Sheila’s involvement with Eva Smith in Act One of An Inspector Calls. The resource is suitable for a mid-high level group studying the text for GCSE Literature. The resource contains: LOs/Skills slide A quick exploration of the Inspector’s sardonic language and why Priestley uses this method to characterise him (might be done prior to lesson as a homework; could be done as a separate lesson prior to the ‘Sheila’ lesson; answer slide could be given as handout if pushed for time) A slide to briefly note down Sheila’s involvement with Eva Smith A slide to explore Sheila’s characterisation and role in the play at this point An exemplar answer slide to previous An exploration of the play’s structure and its symbolic significance (parts making the whole) A plenary in which students reflect on Sheila’s role and the skills of noticing, analysing and making links made today to further understand Priestley’s methods. As well as answer slides, other slides have teacher notes underneath with sample ideas and answers. Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores the changes in Sheila and Eric from the start of the play for mid-high level GCSE groups. Resource includes: LOs and outcomes A prompt slide to read pp.57-61 with focus question A blank table to complete comparing language choices from Act 1 and Act 3 A completed table of ideas with a prompt question A short sample response exploring the changes in Sheila and Eric, and their juxtaposition to Gerald in Act 3. A plenary slide Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores Eric’s involvement with Eva and the Inspector’s final speech Resource includes: LOs and Outcomes A prompt-slide to read pp.50-56 with focus questions A slide to complete the ‘chain of events’ (with a following completed slide) An exploration of Birling and Eric’s relationship (with sample ideas for teacher in notes) An exploration of the Inspector’s commanding use of language (with sample ideas for teacher in notes) A prompt slide for discussion regarding what or who the Inspector actually is (with ideas in notes for teacher) A Word cloud of key language ideas to explore in the Inspector’s final speech A two-slide exemplar essay exploring and analysing the Inspector’s final speech Plenary slide The PowerPoint is likely to take two lesson so split between focus on Eric followed by focus on the Inspector if necessary. Best wishes, Englbee x

Six PowerPoint exploring Act 3 ‘Macbeth’ for mid-high level GCSE Engish Literature classes. The PowerPoint contains exploration of themes: Children; Appearance and Reality; Kingship; Gender & Identity; and Ambition, Fate & Freewill Genre, Shakespeare’s Method and Context are also explored. The teacher can choose to focus on some, or all of the slides, as the class requires. Underneath most slides are teacher notes to aid with class teaching. Best wishes, Englbee x

Four PowerPoints exploring Act 2 of ‘Macbeth’ for mid-high level GCSE Engish Literature classes. The PowerPoints contains exploration of themes: Kingship; Ambition, Fate & Freewill; Appearance and Reality; Gender & Identity; and Children Genre, Shakespeare’s Method and Context are also explored. The teacher can choose to focus on some, or all of the slides, as the class requires. Underneath most slides are teacher notes to aid with class teaching. Best wishes, Englbee x

Three PowerPoints exploring Act 4 of ‘Macbeth’ for mid-high level GCSE Engish Literature classes. The PowerPoint contains exploration of themes: Appearance and Reality; Ambition, Fate & Freewill; Gender & Identity; Kingship; and Children Genre, Shakespeare’s Method and Context are also explored. The teacher can choose to focus on some, or all of the slides, as the class requires. Underneath most slides are teacher notes to aid with class teaching. Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint for the end of Act Two on Mrs Birling’s involvement with Eva Smith and her condemnation of Eric. Suitable for mid-high GCSE Literature groups Slides include: LOs and Outcomes A prompt slide with focus questions whilst reading pp40-49 (end of Act 2) Questions to explore Mrs Birling’s class prejudice with example ideas in the teacher notes below An exploration of Mrs Birling’s first name -Sybil - and its links to blindness A tension graph (blank) for students to complete if the teacher wishes with the language of the Inspector and Mrs Birling towards the end of Act 2 A completed tension graph A written response to explore Priestley’s method at the end of Act 2 including a focus on the use of narrative gaps and structure A plenary task to reflect on learning regarding context, language and structure from the day’s lesson. Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable, high-level essay for AQA GCSE English Literature Paper Two Part A. However, it would be useful with any syllabus. The essay is offered as an adaptable Word doc. and a PDF. The essay question is What do you think is the importance of Mr Birling in the play and how does Priestley present him? Themes explored: Blame; Capitalism; Edwardian mores and values Method: Characterisation; Structure/chains-of-guilt; Symbolism; Contrast/Juxtaposition The essay is approximately 900 words; it can be adapted as needed. The preview shows only a part of the essay. Best wishes, Englbee.

Nine Challenge Cards on the theme of Kingship in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Sample answer ideas provided. Ideal for revision. Fully-adaptable and editable. Suitable for 6-9 GCSE or a very able Year 9 group. Ideas on how to use… Classroom: The Challenge Cards can be prinited off and laminated as individual or class sets. A more covid secure way: The Challenge Card PowerPoint has been set on a timer (can easily be removed). If you play it from the beginning as a slideshow, it will go through the challenge cards quickly. Press esc at any point to select a question for your class. The class can attempt a question as a whole, or you could repeat the selection process to give different groups a challenge card question to focus upon. After group or class feedback, find the appropriate sample answer slide on the second PowerPoint and go through some of the ideas found there. Adaptable for you to add your own or delete as you feel necessary for your group(s). Home-learning or remote learning: Teacher selects an individual slide from the PowerPoint to email home to entire class or to anyone not in school. Teacher to decide on level of written work required e.g. detailed plan of answer, or full written response. Online learning might also take place as a discussion via Microsoft Teams if lesson is live. Teacher can then support assessment for learning by emailing the corresponding answer slide from the PowerPoint to students at home, or can present it via an online lesson on Microsoft teams for discussion etc. The nine Challenge Cards here deal with the theme of Kingship in the play only. Further Macbeth challenge cards with sample answers will be available in the future on different themes - so keep a lookout. Best wishes, Englbee x

Nine Challenge Cards on The Significance of Children in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Sample answer ideas provided. Ideal for revision. Fully-adaptable and editable. Suitable for 6-9 GCSE or a very able Year 9 group. Ideas on how to use… Classroom: The Challenge Cards can be prinited off and laminated as individual or class sets. A more covid secure way: The Challenge Card PowerPoint has been set on a timer (can easily be removed). If you play it from the beginning as a slideshow, it will go through the challenge cards quickly. Press esc at any point to select a question for your class. The class can attempt a question as a whole, or you could repeat the selection process to give different groups a challenge card question to focus upon. After group or class feedback, find the appropriate sample answer slide on the second PowerPoint and go through some of the ideas found there. Adaptable for you to add your own or delete as you feel necessary for your group(s). Home-learning or remote learning: Teacher selects an individual slide from the PowerPoint to email home to entire class or to anyone not in school. Teacher to decide on level of written work required e.g. detailed plan of answer, or full written response. Online learning might also take place as a discussion via Microsoft Teams if lesson is live. Teacher can then support assessment for learning by emailing the corresponding answer slide from the PowerPoint to students at home, or can present it via an online lesson on Microsoft teams for discussion etc. The nine Challenge Cards here deal with the signifance of children in the play only. Further Macbeth challenge cards with sample answers will be available in the future on different themes - so keep a lookout. Best wishes, Englbee x